Page 53 - the-trial

the matter and if only one of them, now and then, was per-
suaded.
“I’m not trying to be a successful orator,” said K. after
this thought, “that’s probably more than I’m capable of
anyway. I’m sure the examining judge can speak far bet-
ter than I can, it is part of his job after all. All that I want is
a public discussion of a public wrong. Listen: ten days ago
I was placed under arrest, the arrest itself is something I
laugh about but that’s beside the point. They came for me in
the morning when I was still in bed. Maybe the order had
been given to arrest some house painter that seems possible
after what the judge has said someone who is as innocent
as I am, but it was me they chose. There were two police
thugs occupying the next room. They could not have taken
better precautions if I had been a dangerous robber. And
these policemen were unprincipled riff-raff, they talked at
me till I was sick of it, they wanted bribes, they wanted to
trick me into giving them my clothes, they wanted money,
supposedly so that they could bring me my breakfast after
they had blatantly eaten my own breakfast in front of my
eyes. And even that was not enough. I was led in front of
the supervisor in another room. This was the room of a lady
who I have a lot of respect for, and I was forced to look on
while the supervisor and the policemen made quite a mess
of this room because of me, although not through any fault
of mine. It was not easy to stay calm, but I managed to do
so and was completely calm when I asked the supervisor
why it was that I was under arrest. If he were here he would
have to confirm what I say. I can see him now, sitting on the

The Trial